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Chapter 5

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1 (i) three resistors drawn in series (ii) R = 3.0 + 4.0 + 6.0 = 13 (iii) three resistors drawn in parallel 9 1 ___ 1 1 1 __ (iv) + ___ + ___ = ___ R= 3.0 4.0 6.0 12 gives R = 1.3

Marks Examiners tips


1 1 1 1 1 The largest resistance is when the resistors are all connected in series. Adding resistors in parallel creates extra paths for the current and thus lowers the total resistance. Dont forget to invert (1/R) in parallel circuit calculations. Connecting a wire of negligible resistance in parallel with a component provides the easiest possible path for the current. All of the current is now in the short circuit and none in the 60 resistor (which is therefore effectively missing from the circuit). The 60 resistor and the new 30 resistor now form a parallel combination. Find the resistance of this combination and add it to the original 30 (which is connected in series) to find the total resistance of the circuit. If you stated the equation R = (V / I) without giving the meaning of R, V and I you would be awarded 1 mark only. Find the resistance of the parallel combination first. You then know that it is equivalent to a single 2.0 resistor that is connected in series with the 9.0 resistor. The total current in the two parallel resistors must be equal to that in the 9.0 resistor. The pd across them is this current multiplied by their effective resistance, which you calculated at the start of b. This is the power dissipated in all the resistors, so the resistance required is that of the complete arrangement. From part (b) this is 11 . The current in the 9.0 resistor, and in the parallel combination of 2.0 , is 2.4 A.

2 (a) circuit resistance is now only 30 V ___ 6.0 current I = __ = 30 = 0.20 A R

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(b) two resistors in parallel give 1 ___ 1 1 ___ 1 __ ___ + R= 60 30 = 20 and R = 20 total resistance = 20 + 30 = 50 V ___ 6.0 current I = __ = 50 = 0.12 A R 3 (a)  resistance is defined by potential difference R = ________________ current or R = (V/I), with all three symbols defined (b) two resistors in parallel give 1 ___ 1 1 1 __ + ___ = __ R= 3.0 6.0 2 and R = 2.0 total resistance = 2.0 + 9.0 = 11 (c) (i)  pd across parallel resistors V = I R = 2.4 2.0 = 4.8 V current in 3.0 resistor V ___ 4.8 I = __ = = 1.6 A R 3.0 (ii) total power P = I 2 R = 2.42 11 = 63 W

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AQA Physics A AS Level Nelson Thornes Ltd 2008

Chapter 5
Answers to examination-style questions
Answers
4 (a) first two parallel resistors give 1 1 1 ___ ___ + 30 60 = 20 second two parallel resistors give 1 1 1 ________ ___ + 90 (15 + 30) = 30 total resistance = 20 + 30 = 50 (b) (i)  charge Q = I t = 50 103 4 60 = 12 C

Marks Examiners tips

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In this instance you are expected to do all of the calculation for each of the parallel combinations before being given the marks for them. The parallel combinations are connected in series, so simple addition leads to the third mark. The current in resistor R is the same as that in the ammeter, because they are connected in series. Potential difference is the work done (or energy transferred) per unit charge. Alternative approach: From W = I V t, W _________________ 18 __ V = = = 1.5 V It (50 103 4 60) You calculated the pd across R in (ii) above, and (in effect) you were told the current in it in (i). When its internal resistance is negligible, the emf of a battery is equal to the total pd across the external resistors. Resistors A and B are in series, so the total external resistance is 30 + 30 = 60 . You could do this part by other means, such as subtracting the lost volts from the emf of the battery. The resistance of resistor A is 30 and the current in it is that calculated in (i). Once you have found the power in (iii), multiplying it by the time will give the energy dissipated. Work from first principles by first calculating the current I and then finding VB by using V = I R. Alternatively you could write down the potential divider equation and then use it: RB 15 VB = _______ 12 = ___ 12 RA + RB 25 = 7.2 V

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W ___ 18 (ii) pd across R, V = __ Q = 12

= 1.5 V

1.5 (iii) resistance R = ________ = 30 50 103 (iv) emf = I Rtotal  = 50 103 (50 + 30) = 4.0 V

e 12 5 (i) I = _____ r = ______ R+ 60 + 2 = 0.194 A (ii) pd across PQ = pd across total external resistance = I R = 0.194 60 = 11.6 V (iii) power P = I 2 R = 0.1942 30 = 1.13 W (iv) energy dissipated = Pt = 1.13 20 = 23 J

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e 12 6 (a) current I = ____ = _______ = 0.48 A R 10 + 15 pd across RB, VB = I RB  = 0.48 15 = 7.2 V


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AQA Physics A AS Level Nelson Thornes Ltd 2008

Chapter 5
Answers to examination-style questions
Answers
(b) new total circuit resistance =  25 + 7.5 = 32.5 V ____ 12 __ new current = = = 0.369 A R 32.5 terminal pd = I r  = 12 (0.369 7.5) = 9.2 V 7 (a) (i) zero (0V), or negligibly small

Marks Examiners tips


1 1 1 Because of its internal resistance, cell Y supplies a smaller current than cell X. This reduces the total pd across the external resistors, which is equal to the terminal pd across cell Y, from 12 V to 9.2 V. Apply V = I R to the shorting lead, for which R 0, and V 0 (whatever the current). However the current can only ever be small, because it is limited by the 2 M resistor inside the supply unit. The only resistance in the circuit is that of the 2 M internal resistor. Remember that 1 M = 106 . The resistor must be capable of withstanding the heating produced when the EHT supply unit is short circuited and there is a current of 2.5 mA in it. An unprotected EHT supply unit could present a lethal danger to a person using it, since the emf of 5000 V could cause a fatal current if its terminals were inadvertently touched. The size of the current presents danger to the human body, rather than the voltage alone. It has been said that Its volts that jolts but its mills that kills. (mills = mA)

e 5000 (ii) I = ____ = ______ = 2.5 103 A Rtotal 2 106 = 2.5 mA (iii) minimum power rating = I 2 R = (2.5 103)2 2 106 = 13 W (b)  so that the current supplied by the unit is restricted to a value below danger level

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Nelson Thornes is responsible for the solution(s) given and they may not constitute the only possible solution(s). AQA Physics A AS Level Nelson Thornes Ltd 2008

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